True Taste of Italy

Pasta with Tuna (Pasta con Tonno)  is a very popular dish in Italy despite the odd combination of ingredients.  This recipe is very easy to prepare and we often enjoy it on Christmas Eve along many other delicious foods.

ngredients for Pasta with Tuna:

• 1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled or crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 (6 ounce) can tuna fish, drained
• 4 fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon rock salt
• 1 (16 ounce) box spaghetti pasta

Directions for Pasta with Tuna:

• Blend tomatoes until smooth.  In large pot, add olive oil and chopped onion.  Sauté onion until translucent.  Add tuna and 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
• Add tomatoes and basil leaves.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 1½ hours.
• When sauce is ready, fill large pot with water and rock salt.  Bring water to boil and cook pasta according to package directions.
• Drain pasta and add desired amount of sauce.  Mix well and serve hot.

This Pasta with Tuna recipe serves 4 to 6.

Return from Pasta with Tuna recipe to other Pasta Recipes

Sauteéd Dover Sole (Sogliola alla Mugnaia) is a delicious recipe and an easy way to prepare this delicate, tender fish.  It can be paired with any one of our vegetable side dishes to make a complete meal.  If you like your sole prepared this way, consider trying our Oven-Baked Sole recipe.

Ingredients for Sauteéd Dover Sole:

• Flour for dredging
• 4 fillets Dover Sole
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup white wine
• lemon juice
• 4 leaves fresh sage, chopped
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions for Sauteéd Dover Sole:

• In large bowl, dredge fillets in flour and coat well on both sides.
• Melt butter in skillet over medium heat.  Add fillets and brown on both sides.
• Add wine, lemon juice, sage, salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove from skillet to serving platter and garnish with lemon wedges.

This Sauteéd Dover Sole recipe serves 4.

Tip:  Because sole is a very tender fish, it cooks very fast.  Depending on the thickness, cooking time will likely be no longer than 7 minutes.

Return from Sauteed Dover Sole to Seafood Recipes

This Oven-Baked Dover Sole recipe is a lighter version of our sauteéd dover sole recipe.  Try it both ways and decide which version you like best.

Ingredients for Oven-Baked Dover Sole:

• 3 cups milk
• flour for dredging
• 6 fillets Dover sole
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions for Oven-Baked Dover Sole:

• Preheat oven to 375° F.
• In a large bowl, combine milk and salt to taste.  Add fillets and coat well on both sides.
• In a small bowl, add flour for dredging.  Coat milk-covered fillets with flour on both sides.
• In oven-safe dish, coat bottom with olive oil and add fillets.  Place dish in oven, cook about 15 to 20 minutes and turn once.

This Oven-Baked Dover Sole recipe serves 6.

Baked Cod (Baccalá al Forno) is a deliciously simple fish recipe.  Since childhood, I have always associated this dish with warmth and security.  The best way I know to describe this wonderful dish is to call it “my comfort food.”

Ingredients for Baked Cod:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 fresh or frozen cod fillets
• 1 ½ cups crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/3 cup pitted black olives, halved
• 1 ½ teaspoons oregano

Directions for Baked Cod:

• Preheat oven to 375° F.
• Inoven-safe dish, combine olive oil, cod, tomatoes, onion, olives, salt and pepper to taste, and oregano.
• Bake in oven about 20 to 25 minutes.  Turn occasionally to cook evenly on all sides.

This Baked Cod recipe serves 4 to 6.

Shrimp Cocktail (Il Cocktail di Gamberetti) is the perfect way to begin any wonderful dinner with fish entrees.

Ingredients for Shrimp Cocktail:

• 1/2 tablespoon rock salt
• 1/2 pound small frozen shrimp, peeled, veined
• 4 large leaves Boston lettuce
• 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• Juice of 1 lemon, seeds removed

Directions for Shrimp Cocktail:

• Fill pot with water and rock salt and bring to boil.  Cook shrimp in boiling water for 3 minutes.  Drain and place in bowl.  Add 2 ½ tablespoons olive oil.  Stir to mix well and set aside.
• In separate bowl, combine lemon juice, remaining olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.  Whisk with fork to mix well.
• In individual serving cups, place leaf of lettuce and several scoops of shrimp.  Drizzle olive oil and lemon juice mixture over shrimp.  Chill and serve.

This Shrimp Cocktail recipe serves 4.